HollywoodLife.com chats with Sherry Gaba about young Hollywood and addiction!

Sherry Gaba has plenty of hands-on experience analyzing superstar psyche as the resident life coach on Celebrity Rehab With Dr. Drew. When she sees young stars struggling with the demons of addiction and outside pressure, Sherry can only urge them to find the professional help they so desperately need.

With the frantic pacing of fame, Sherry says it is no surprise that stars such as Demi Lovato, 18, turn to outlets such as harming themselves to stay grounded. Self-mutilation is especially common with young people and is often triggered by trauma, abandonment, abuse or neglect. “Cutters feel out of control in life,” Gaba says. “Something in your life is complete chaos and the only way to deal with that is to make yourself feel bad.”

Sherry goes on to say that many young celebrities become “adult children” who realize they’re the breadwinners of their family, and this role reversal can lead to dangerous behavior. “I hate to say this, but the bottom line is if you’re supporting your family, you have a lot of pressure,” Sherry says.

Chemical dependency, which has plagued starlets such as Lindsay Lohan, 24, is optimally treated with professional help. Sherry believes “the best thing that happened to Lindsay was going to the Betty Ford Center.”

Although Lindsay has moved into an apartment next door to ex-girlfriend Samantha Ronson, 33, Sherry suggests a year in a sober living facility would be a better alternative.”The longer you’re in rehab, the better the results,” Sherry says.

We hope these young celebrities struggling with addiction take this advice to heart and seek out the help they need to recover!